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New state behavioral health laws

New state behavioral health laws

"House Bill 1193" “Behavioral Health Supports For High-risk Families” provides access to intensive substance use treatment to women up to one year after giving birth, and creates pilot child care programs for women in treatment." "Sponsors: Reps. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, and Rod Pelton, R-Cheyenne Wells, and Sen. Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo" "Signed: May 23" Read full article #mentalhealth #behavioralhealth #addiction #opioids

FOR COPO PRINT!!! Colorado opioid fight stretches from Denver to D.C.

FOR COPO PRINT!!! Colorado opioid fight stretches from Denver to D.C.

"Senate Bill 227, a sweeping piece of legislation aimed at getting drug-overdose medication into schools, expanding the state’s drug take-back program and getting automated external defibrillator devices into more buildings. The bill was sponsored by Pettersen; Kennedy; Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver; and Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver." Read full article #LeslieHerod #GovernorPolis #opioidcrisis #addiction #Caring4Denver #criminaljusticereform

Capitol review: Lawmakers chipped away at opioid epidemic with 6 bills

Capitol review: Lawmakers chipped away at opioid epidemic with 6 bills

"State lawmakers made strides toward curbing the opioid epidemic in Colorado, which claims at least one victim every day. In the just-ended session, they passed policies to expand treatment in rural Colorado, to stock an overdose-reversal medication in public places, and to require some jails and prisons to offer withdrawal medication to certain inmates." "Those efforts come as opioid-related deaths held steady in 2018, with heroin and fentanyl overdoses inching up, according

New legislation aims to tackle opioid crisis in Colorado

New legislation aims to tackle opioid crisis in Colorado

"Senate Bill 227" “Harm Reduction Substance Use Disorders” would explicitly authorize schools to carry naloxone, a drug that can reverse opioid overdoses. It would also allow hospitals to serve as syringe exchange sites, expand the household medication take-back program, and create mobile response teams to provide medication-assisted substance use treatment in jails." "The bill was sponsored by Pettersen and Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver. In the House, it was sponsored by Ken

Colorado could reduce penalties for drug possession crimes

Colorado could reduce penalties for drug possession crimes

“Our state cannot afford to continue doling out felony convictions and sending people to prison for drug possession,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, one of four sponsors of the bill, in a statement. “It has not made our community safer, but it has created a whole host of problems for many people and families in our community. Permanently branding drug users as criminals makes it harder for them to access the things they need to get back on their feet, like stable housing and employm

Bill would make possessing drugs in Colorado a misdemeanor instead of a felony

Bill would make possessing drugs in Colorado a misdemeanor instead of a felony

"On Tuesday, lawmakers heard testimony on House Bill 1263, which would make it a misdemeanor and no longer a felony to possess illegal drugs." "The bill does not address distribution of drugs, which means it will still be a felony to sell illegal products." “They could still get up to 120 days -- 180 days in some instances -- so they could still go to jail, hard time. The question is: Do we put them in DOC where there are no resources for them, or do we allow them the opportu

Bill to eliminate felonies for drug possession in Committee today

Bill to eliminate felonies for drug possession in Committee today

"DENVER – A House Judiciary meeting is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday to discuss a bill sponsored by Democratic Rep. Leslie Herod and Republican Rep. Shane Sandridge who believes by reclassifying simple drug possession as a misdemeanor, that it would ultimately result in fewer felony records, reduced jail sentences, and million in savings to the state." “Most Coloradans agree we should focus more on treatment and prevention instead of punishment and incarceration, and that i

Recovering Addict Says Felony Drug Charge Bill Would Help, Not Hurt

Recovering Addict Says Felony Drug Charge Bill Would Help, Not Hurt

"We have a leg up where it concerns understanding what our folks have been through and what they’re probably going to face in their challenges after incarceration,” Latif said. “We have about 1,300 client visits a month. We have a recidivism rate over the last four years of under 10 percent.” "It’s because of his experiences he’s supporting House Bill 1263. Rep. Leslie Herod is leading the effort to change some small drug possession charges into misdemeanors. Advocates say it

Lawmakers Consider Bill To Lower Penalties For Drug Possession

Lawmakers Consider Bill To Lower Penalties For Drug Possession

"DENVER (CBS4) — Lawmakers will consider a bill Tuesday that would lower the penalty for possession of illegal drugs for personal use. Under existing law, possession of a controlled substance listed in schedule I or II is a felony. If HB19-1263 passes, it would reduce simple drug possession crimes in Colorado to a misdemeanor and remove the felony charge for possessing more than 12 ounces of marijuana." "Schedule I drugs include heroin, LSD, marijuana, peyote, methaqualone, a

How Drug-Possession Felonies Are Overwhelming Colorado Prisons

How Drug-Possession Felonies Are Overwhelming Colorado Prisons

"These institutions were never designed to be treatment centers, and they can't be relied upon to do that," notes Donner." "That's why the CCJRC is supporting House Bill 19-1263, which was introduced on March 22 and will be heard in the house Judiciary Committee on April 2; it's sponsored by representatives Leslie Herod and Shane Sandridge, as well as senators Vicki Marble and Pete Lee. If approved, the measure would reduce felony simple drug possession crimes in the state to

10 local stories making headlines this week

Lawmakers eye drug sentencing reforms to ease projected prison population growth

Lawmakers eye drug sentencing reforms to ease projected prison population growth

"This has some lawmakers wondering if too many people addicted to drugs are ending up behind bars." “Are they supposed to be there in the first place or are there other options?” said Rep. Leslie Herod, a Democrat from Denver and advocate for addiction treatment who will serve as vice chair of the House Judiciary Committee when the legislature gavels in on Jan. 4." "A state budget analyst told lawmakers last week that private prisons are about full, prisoners are sleeping in

INSIGHTS | Colorado usually leads the pack

INSIGHTS | Colorado usually leads the pack

"State Rep. Leslie Herod, a Democrat from Denver, led the passage of a city sales tax for mental health and drug addiction services in November. She will carry a bill next session to allow Denver and others in Colorado that could quality to set up a pilot program, to see if the injection sites save lives and get more people into treatment." "Politics have to go to where the people are," she said, "and most people in Colorado aren't on the extreme right or left." Read full art

Feds issue scathing response to Denver's supervised injection ordinance

Feds issue scathing response to Denver's supervised injection ordinance

"Kilmer then said supervised injection sites can reduce the risk of fatal overdose, disease transmission and issues associated with unhygienic drug use practices but said it’s unclear “about the size of the population-level effects of SCSs.” "To implement the supervised use site pilot program in Denver, a bill will have to pass through the Colorado State Legislature in the 2019 session." "State Representative Leslie Herod (D-Denver) said she will be one of the sponsors for a

Feds question Denver's drug plan

Feds question Denver's drug plan

"Those injecting methamphetamine, cocaine or other drugs for which there is no counteragent are also welcome to use the facility. The Denver facility likewise would welcome users of any drug, not just opioids." "The agencies said their statement should not be "read as casting aspersions on the laudable motives of those seeking to improve our communities and free Coloradans from the scourge of drug addiction." "That is, however, how it was received by those working to set up t

Denver trying again for possible 1st US drug injection site

Denver trying again for possible 1st US drug injection site

"DENVER -- Despite federal opposition, Denver is trying again to become what could be the first U.S. city to open a supervised drug injection site, a strategy that some liberal cities have tried repeatedly to launch to reduce overdose deaths fueled by a nationwide opioid epidemic. The Denver City Council voted 12-1 on Monday to approve a measure that would allow one site to open for at least two years under a pilot program. But there are still several hurdles to clear. The pr

Why Denver Voted to Fund Mental-Health Treatment

Why Denver Voted to Fund Mental-Health Treatment

"A year after Colorado saw a record 1,175 suicides and an all-time high number of drug overdoses, according to the Colorado Health Institute, Denver voters decided to take matters into their own hands. On Election Day, the city passed a .25 percent sales tax (or 25 cents on a $100 purchase) under the Caring 4 Denver initiative, raising a new stream of money to treat mental health and addiction. It’s meant to take the response out of the hands of police and jails and focus on

Will Denver Vote to Fund More Mental Health and Addiction Services?

Will Denver Vote to Fund More Mental Health and Addiction Services?

"House Representative Leslie Herod (D-District 8) is asking for the public’s help to address the Mile High City’s dearth of mental health and addiction services. “I see how much the community is hurting. I see our alarming rates of suicide…There are three to four overdoses on the streets of Denver every day,” she says. “We need more help, and we don’t have it right now.” "Herod is the driving force behind Caring 4 Denver, aka Initiated Ordinance 301 on the Denver municipal ba

On Your Ballot: $45M mental health initiative is needed in Denver in midst of crisis, advocates say

On Your Ballot: $45M mental health initiative is needed in Denver in midst of crisis, advocates say

“DENVER — Denver voters will have a lot to consider when they fill out their ballots over the next few weeks, including spending millions of dollars to help those who need mental health care through proposed Ordinance 301 or Caring 4 Denver. Read full article #Caring4Denver #Caring4Denver #Mentalhealth #Addiction #SubstanceAbuse

Denver voters asked to raise taxes to increase mental health, substance abuse funding

Denver voters asked to raise taxes to increase mental health, substance abuse funding

"DENVER – In addition to more than a dozen statewide issues, this November voters across Colorado will decide issues specifically for their own cities and counties." "In Denver, one of those issues is being called Caring 4 Denver, which would raise $45 million every year to fund mental health and addiction services for children and adults by adding a 25-cent tax on every $100 in purchases." "On this weekend’s Politics Unplugged, State Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, talks to Ann

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